Spirometer and coin-controlled mechanism therefor



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

D.A. A.BUCK SPIROMETER AND GOIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM THEREFOR.

No. 595,990. Qgg lgd Dec. 21, 1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet-Z;

D. A. A. BUCK. SPIROMETER AND 90m CONTROLLED MECHANISM THEREFOR.

595,990. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

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SNITED STATES Fries.

ATENT DANIEL AZRO A. BUCK, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL SPIROMETER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

SPIROMETER AND COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,990, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed May 18, 1897. Serial No. 637,037. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL AZRO A. BUCK, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spirom-' eters and Coin-Controlled Mechanism Therefor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in spirometers and coin-controlled mechanism for use in connection therewith.

The primary object of the invention is to provide simple and highly-efficient means for testing and strengtheningthe lungs, and, secondly, new and improved mechanism for controlling the use of a spirometer by the deposit of a coin, the latter feature having in View to prevent the reuse of the device Without the deposit of a second coin. Y

The invention also has for its object to greatly simplify the construction and operation of the parts, avoiding all complication, and reducing the cost to a minimum.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view from the rear with the inclosing box broken away. Fig. 3 is a side or edge view. Fig. 4 is a View of the indicator-controlling segment. Fig. 5 is a view of the coin-receiver of the operating-lever. Fig. 6 is a detail.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a box or inclosing casing, in the front wall a of which is a cut-away a to accommodate a removable metallic plate G2. On the exposed face of this plate is a dial a having suitable marks of graduation, preferably from zero (0) to one hundred, (100.) In one of the upper corners of this plate is an opening a through which projects an inclined chute a on which a coin is designed to be deposited so as to slide inward. This chute is struck up from a single metallic plate, the side edges of which are bent to form flanges a, fitting in grooves a of opening a while in the bottom the plate is cut away to form an opening 01. and atongue a The latter is bent downward and is held to a flange a on the rear face of plate a by a screw a The extreme lower end of the chute is flanged at and fits snug against the shouldered end of a post a and a shoulder 1) of a curved guide-bar b, the latter and said post being made integral with plate o The lower end of barb is cut away at 19 B is an arbor extending through a central opening of the dial and carrying the indicator-hand C. 'At its rear end this arbor is supported by a plate b depending from the end of a post I), integral with plate a .On the arbor B is a small toothed pinion cl, while also on said arbor, near its rear end, is a disk cl,

with which an arm (Z is designed to have frictional contact and thereby hold the arbor at any point to which it is turned. This arm d is pivoted at d to plate 19 and has a curved edge d conforming to the peripheral contour of disk d. The outer end (I of this arm is weighted so as to normally hold said arm in frictional contact with the disk 61. On the lower end is a shoulder d, with which a cam 61 is designed to engage in such manner as to raise the arm 01 from contact with disk 01'' when the arbor returns the indicator-hand back to zero. This cam is loose on a shaft D", projecting from plate a and is carried by a lever E, fulcrumed on said shaft, said cam having a cylindrical hub e, the reduced portion 6 of which fits snug in an opening in the lever.

The lever E is composed of a plate 6 and a rod 6 On one end of the plate is a weight 6 by which the outer end of the rod is normally held elevated; To this end of said rod is secured a coin-receiving receptacle F,which is struck up from a single piece of metal. Its front vertical portion f has its upper end f flanged and inclined toward the outer end, while its rear side f is extended upwardly and formed with an opening f The front and rear sides are united at one end by a flange f extending from said front side and engaging the rear side. The end of the rod e fits in the vertex of the receptacle, and the latter is held on said rod by solder or the .point, avoiding all rebound.

like. Normally the flanged end f of the coinreceptacle bears against the lower flanged end of the coin-chute and the rear wall projects above the end of the chute, so that a coin deposited in said chute will fall into said receptacle and turn the lever as against its weighted end. In its descent the receptacle F travels concentrically to the curved guidebar I), and upon reaching the lower end of the latter the coin falls from the open end f of the receptacle through the cut-away b into a suitable receptacle. As the lever is thus tilted the rounded periphery of cam (Z engages arm d -and raises the latter from contact with disk (1, but when the lever returns to its normal position the shoulder 61 is opposite a flatedge of said cam. This cam is formed with an open-end slot 9 for insertion of a screw-driver or other suitable tool, whereby the cam can be turned and adjusted so as to regulate the point at which the rounded edge thereof will contact with and raise the arm d G designates a double segment loosely journaled on shaft D and having opposite toothed portions g g the former being in engagement with pinion cl, so as to elfect the turning of the arbor and the indicating-hand. \Vith the other toothed portion g is designed to engage a pawl 9 f ulcrumed on a plate g held to an abutment g of plate a by a screw g said plate 9* having an open-end slot 9 by which it can be readily adjusted by a suitable tool. The pawl g at its lower end has a tooth g projecting from one side, while the other side of said end is weighted, as at g the weight serving to constantly hold said tooth g in engagement with the segment, operating on the order of the escapment of a watch. This tooth acts as a brake or governor, preventing the index-hand from being returned to the starting-point too rapidly, and also serving to hold the hand at that The pawl g at its upper end has a tooth g which does not normally engage with the segmental teeth, being held away therefrom by the weighted end g but if a sudden movement be imparted to the segment the upper tooth g will be instantly thrown into engagement with teeth 9 under the swinging or momentum of the pawl, thereby arrestingfurth er movement of the indicator mechanism. The pawl will, however, resume its normal position as soon as the pressure is removed.

H is a pawl fulcrumed at 71 on the lower end of the toothed segment g. It has an outer hooked end h, an upper short arm 72 and a lower long arm 713, the weight of the latter tending to normally hold the short arm 77, in contact with a stop-pin 77, projecting from the face of segment g; but when the segment g is turned downward the long arm ha of said pawl will strike a lug h, projecting from the face of plate a and turn the pawl II so that its hooked end will protrude beyond the segmental teeth 9. WVith this hooked end of the pawl is designed to engage a spring-arm h, projecting laterally from an arm I, loosely mounted on shaft D. Then this engagement occurs, if the arm I is moved upward it will cause the double segment to turn on its shaft, but the instant the arm its is disengaged from said pawl the latter, under the weight of its long arm 71 will fall backward until arrested by stop 7L. Then the arm h cannot engage with said hooked end of the pawl, and in consequence will not affect the indicating mechanism. Assuming the segment to have been so moved and the pawl and arm h to be disengaged, it is necessary to deposit a coin in the chute to effect the return of the segment to its normal position. As this is done a lateral arm 1' of lever E will engage stop 72., and in descending the lever will move the segment with it, and as soon as the long arm of the pawl strikes lug 71 said pawl will be turned so as to engage the arm h. By making arm h of spring metal it is free to give and slide down over the hooked end of pawl II if (as sometimes occurs during shipment) the segment is lowered, thereby throwing the hooked end of the pawl outward, while the spring-arm h is above it. The deposit of a coin causing the tilting of the lever will, however, result in the arm 71 sliding past the pawl and in engagement with the under side of the hook thereof.

J is a piston-cylinder, into the lower end of which opens a tube 7', having at its outer end a mouthpiece j. The rod j of piston 9' is connected at its upper end to a yoke j, extending transversely over the cylinder. To the ends of this yoke are connected the upper ends of coiled springs 3' the lower ends of the latter being suitably secured to projeetionsj of the lower cylinder-head. On a cap 9' on the center of yoke j is designed to rest the lower end of arm I. Hence any upward movement of the piston will result in raising the outer end of arm I, and if the lateral arm h is in engagement with the hooked pawl the segment will be turned; otherwise the arm I will be raised without afiecting the segment, and it is necessary to deposit a coin in order to so move the segment that the pawl will be positioned into engagement with the arm h". V

From what has been said it will be seen that when a coin is deposited in the chute it will be guided by the latter into the receptacle of the leveigand the latter,bein g thereby weighted down, will turn on its fulcrum, raise the friction-brake so as to permit the indicatorarbor to freely turn, and the lateral arm of said lever engaging the stop of the segment will turn the latter on its shaft back to its lowermost position, causing the hooked pawl brake to lower into engagement'with the disk on the arbor. The operator thereupon .blow ing through the tube will cause the piston to rise, carrying with it the arm I,which, through the agency of its engagement with the hooked pawl, will turn the segment, and the latter will operate the indicating mechanism, the hand designating the extent of the pressure. The segment is held at this point by the weighted pawl g As soon as the pressure is released even to a small degree, causing the slightest lowering of arm I, the hooked pawl falls backward out of line of engagement with the elevating-arm, and hence any .further or renewed pressure in the cylinder will not be indicated by the index hand. Should the operator give a sudden blow or blows into the cylinder, the uppertooth of the weighted pawl will be thrown into engagement with the teeth of the segment, arresting and holding the latter. When another coin is deposited, the parts will again assume their normal position and the hand will be returned to zero. g

It will be observed that I have produced'a combined spirometer and coin controlled mechanism which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and not liable to readily get out of order. The coin-controlled mechanism may be used in connection with devices other than that described.

I claim as my invention- 1. A spirometer having a dial, an arbor and an index-hand on the latter, mechanism for moving said arbor comprising a segment,-a pneumatic device for moving said segment, and a pawl for normally holding the latter when gradually moved and for preventing the sudden movement thereof, as set forth.

2. A spirometer having a dial, an arbor and an in dicator-hand on the latter, mechanism for moving said arbor comprising a segment engaging saidarbor, a pneumatic device for moving said segment, and a weighted pawl having two teeth, one being normally in engagement with said segment and the other being forced into such engagement when the segment is moved too rapidly, substantially as set forth.

3. A spirometer having a dial, an arbor, an index-hand thereon, mechanism engaging said arbor comprising a double segment having opposite toothed portions, one of which engages said arbor, a pawl designed to engage the other toothed portion of said segment and weighted at one end, and a piston for moving said double segment,substantially as set forth.

4:. In a spirometer having indicating mechanism comprising a toothed segment, a double-toothed pawl weighted at one end, whereby one tooth of said pawl is normally in engagement with said segment and the other tooth will engage and hold said segment if the latter is moved too suddenly, as set forth.

5. In a spirometer having indicating mechanism comprising a toothed segment, a pawl weighted at one end engaging said segment, a platoon which said pawl is pivoted having an open-end slot, and a single screw holding said plate, substantially as set forth.

6. A spirometer having an arbor carrying the index-hand, means for rotating said arbor, a disk on the latter, a pivoted arm nor- .mally bearing on said disk, a cam for releasing'said arm from said disk, when said arbor is being reversed, and means for operating said cam, as set forth.

7. A spirometer having an arbor carrying the index-hand, means for rotating said arbor, a disk on the latter, a pivoted arm normally bearing on said disk, and a lever having a cam designed to engage and release said arm from said disk, as set forth.

8. A spirometer having an arbor carrying the index-hand, means for rotating said arbor, a disk on the latter, a pivoted arm normally bearing on said disk, a lever, a cam rotarily adjustable on said lever and having an open-end slot and a curved portion designed to engage said arm and raise it from contact with said disk, substantially as set forth.

9-. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating mechanism,means for moving such mechanism having a pivoted pawl, and operating means designed to engage said pawl and effect the movement of said mechanism while so engaged, said pawl being so mounted that when once disengaged by said operating means it will move out of the line of movement thereof, as set forth.

10. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating mechanism,means for moving such mechanism having a pivoted pawl, and operating means designed to engage said pawl and effect the movement of said mechanism, said pawl being so mounted that when once disengaged by said operating means it will move out of the way thereof, and means for reengagingsaid pawl with said arm when the means for moving said mechanism is returned to its normal position, as set forth.

11. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating mechanism,means for moving such mechanism having a pivoted pawl, and operating means comprising an arm designed to engage said pawl and move said mechanism, said pawl being so mounted that if said arm is disengaged therefrom it will move out of the line of travel of said arm, substantially as set forth.

12. In a coin-controlled apparatus having indicating mechanism ,means for moving such mechanism having a pawl provided with a hooked end and a long arm, and operating means comprising an arm designed to engage said pawl and in its upward travel move said mechanism, and a stop for limiting the movement of said pawl when "disengaged from said arm, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a segment engaging said pinion, a hooked pawl carried by said segment having an arm, two stops, one for limiting the movement of said pawl and the other for turning said pawl, an arm designed to engage the hook of said pawl, and means for elevating said arm, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a segment engaging said pinion, a hooked pawl carried by said segment having upper and lower arms, a stop on said segment designed to limit the movement of said pawl, a second stop designed to be engaged by said lower arm and move said pawl, an arm designed to engage the hooked end of said pawl, and means for raising said arm, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a segment engaging said pinion, a pawl on said segment having a hooked end and an arm, a stop for limiting the movement of saidpawl, a second stop designed to be engaged by said arm and move said pawl forward, an arm designed to engage the hooked end of said pawl, and a pneumatic device designed to raise said arm, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with the base, and the index-hand and its arbor carrying a pinion, of a shaft projecting from said base, a segment on said shaft engaging said pinion, a hooked pawl carried by said segment, an arm loose on said shaft having a lateral projection designed to engage said hooked pawl, and a pneumatic device designed to elevate said arm, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion, of a shaft, a segment thereon engaging said pinion, a pivoted pawl on said segment, an arm loose on said shaft designed to engage said pawl when the latter is moved forward, a disk on said arbor, an arm bearing on said disk, and a coin-controlled lever having a cam designed to engage said arm, and means for moving said segment, substantially as set forth.

18. A spirometer having indicating means, a segment for. moving the same, a hooked pawl on said segment, an arm designed to engage with said hooked pawl, a pneumatic device for raising said arm, and a coin-operated lever designed to engage and move said segment in its descent, substantially as set forth.

19. A spirometer having indicating means, a segment for moving the same, a stop carried by said segment, a pivoted pawl having a hooked end and an arm, a pivoted arm designed to engage said pawl, a pneumatic device for raising said arm, said pawl when disengaged being held out of the way of said arm against said stop, and a coinoperated lever having an arm designed to engage said stop and return said segment to its normal position, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination with the index-hand and its arbor having a pinion of a double segment engaging said pinion, a stop and a pawl carried by said segment, the movement of said pawl being limited by said stop, a second stop for tilting said pawl, a pivoted arm designed to engage said pawl, a pneumatic device for raising said arm, a weighted pawl designed to engage said segment having upper and lower teeth for the purpose stated, and a coin-carrying lever having an arm designed to engage said stop of said segment, substantially as forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

D. AZRO A. BUCK.

lVitnesses:

STEPHEN M. MoYL, AIDNA G. BOWEN. 

